Fish not eating

[jcs11236]

i have a purple fire fish for about 4-5 months. for the past month or so she has been hiding in one of my rocks and comes out every 2-3 days. so when she does come out she barely eats. today i seen she is getting skinny and losing some color. what should i do to make her come out more and eat on a daily basis. been feeding mysis/brine and a diy mix of frozen. i also use garlic on mysis. other fish in tnk are yellow watchman and a tomato clown.

 

[Aquadicted]

How's the water?

 

[jcs11236]

everything is fine -all levels are steady
temp 80.5
alk 8.3
mag 1290
cal 440
phos .01
everything else in tank is fine

 

[Treef]

do the other fishes pick on her?

 

[Mattl22]

That happened to my Midas blenny he didn't make it

 

[afernandez]

I have a pair helfrichi's and they love cyclopeez for some reason everytime I feed that they go nuts . And also love pellets .

What other fish do you have?

 

[jcs11236]

That happened to my Midas blenny he didn't make it

aww man. my girlfriend will freak if the lil fish dies. she was so upset today seeing her like that.
i have a yellow watchman goby and a tomato clown. i seen the yellow goby pick at her a few times.

 

[jcs11236]

I have a pair helfrichi's and they love cyclopeez for some reason everytime I feed that they go nuts . And also love pellets .

What other fish do you have?

i will try the cyclopeez and see if she goes for it
thanks for the replies everyone

im wondering if she doesnt keep eating--will she eventually jus die in her cave? will she get ick? not sure what to do. she i try to take her out?

 

[reefnhard]

Garlic juice works to get fish to start eating...kent makes one..you soak there food in it

 

[Chris Jury]

It's most likely being stressed/intimidated by something in or near the tank. My first guess would be the Tomato clown, since they are often fairly territorial. It doesn't necessarily take overt aggression to have this problem either, since firefish/dartfish tend to be a little bit skittish and are easily intimidated.

I'd try removing the clown for a week or more (a cheap 10 gal tank with a piece of live rock, heater, and small powerhead would suffice to keep the clown happy) and see if the firefish starts spending more time in the open. I have a feeling it will, but if not we'll have to see what else could be the problem.

cj

 

[litoreef]

+ 1 with cj ,,, i have one my self with a pair of clarky end a yellow goby end the female be after the firefish sometimes but nothing crazy he just like to get him out the way sometimes ,,,,gl

 

[jcs11236]

poor lil firefish reached his limit today. RIP. my tomato clown and watchman are two bullys. i have had them both for over 5-6 years. they dont like to share their tank with no one else. sad that he died but happy that he didnt get ick. had the lil fish for 6-7 months.